fine • joshler

2

tyler woke up before riley. he always did.

he pulled his briefs on and went to the bathroom to shower and inspect yesterday's damage. his cheekbone was starting to bruise and there were still small specks of blood around his nostril. he had three hickeys and scabbed over nail imprints on his hips. he didn't like it. he loved riley, but he didn't like it.

he liked to shower. he showered everyday. he liked to shower because it felt like he was washing yesterday off of him. it was closure for him. after he dried off he got back in bed and just laid there, taking in the soft sheets and blankets. it was peaceful and quiet, the sun rising in the window cast a beautiful shadow in the floor.

tyler knew he'd have to be ready and making breakfast. he was at great risk if he wasnt up and moving and had breakfast ready for riley. riley was always grumpy in the mornings. good or bad mood. it's okay. he put a t shirt on so he'd be wearing something other than underwear and walked to the kitchen, pulling out a frying pan to make scrambled eggs. after he poured the eggs in the pan a hair fell in, riley would be pissed. without thinking, he dipped his fingers into the pan to take the hair out, yelping in pain when they brushed the seering surface.

goddamn motherfucking idiot.

he scrambled with one hand while he sucked in the finger of the other. idiot. he quickly put the eggs on a paper plate and left it on the table, rushing to the bathroom.

"idiot," he mumbled to himself while putting the disinfectant on the burn.

"idiot," he mumbled to himself while putting the band-aid on the burn.

"idiot," he mumbled to himself.

riley would call him that anyways. it's best to accept it before someone else tells him that. it's fine.

he made himself get up. it was just the tip of his finger burnt and he was acting like he was crippled. he turned on family guy just for background noise and waited for riley to wake up and go to work. maybe if tyler worked up the courage he could ask to go out today.

when he heard the bed creak and light footsteps afterwards, he slightly tensed up.

"morning," tyler said quietly.

"food?" riley groaned.

"on the table for you," tyler said, biting his lip. he didn't know if he should ask anymore. he shouldn't.

riley sat down with a loud thud, "it's not good."

"i'm sorry."

"it's fine, i'm hungry."

tyler stayed completely still. even his breathing was low. anything set riley off in the morning. he's just grumpy.

tyler stayed still when riley got up to throw his plate away. he stayed still when riley left the room to get changed. he stayed still when riley came back in his work uniform.

"riley?" tyler asked, without thinking.

"what?" he said, clearly annoyed.

"um, i was wondering if i could go out today?"

"why?"

"i've just been inside for a while and i, i kind of wanted to go grocery shopping."

"fine," riley said, "don't talk to anyone, tell me when you leave and text me every hour."

riley slammed the door shut and tyler flooded with relief. he was free until 6. he gets to go out. today has been a good day.